Audit and Assurance news

Earlier this year the FRC published an update to its Ethical Standard for auditors, effective from 15 December 2024. The updated ethical standard simplifies the existing ethical standard and provided additional clarity in a limited number of areas. the new standard takes into account recent revisions made to the international IESBA Code of Ethics. there is a new targeted restriction on fees from entities related by a single controlling party. Following feedback to their consultation, the FRC have amended the proposals to ensure that the requirements in the standard are better targeted and proportionate. For example, additional requirements in respect of ethical breach reporting by audit firms to the regulator have been removed. With regard to tax services provided to the controlling shareholders of unlisted companies the FRC is enhancing the independence risk assessment around these services rather than specifically prohibiting them. Alongside the revised Ethical Standard, the FRC has also released guidance for auditors on the application of the Objective, Reasonable and Informed Third Party test, which forms a key part of many requirements in the Ethical Standard. Read the updated Ethical Standard. Read the feedback statement and impact statement. CAI responded to the FRC consultation and you can read our response here.  

The IAASB has published the much anticipated ISSA 5000 International Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements.  This standard is a comprehensive, stand-alone standard suitable for any sustainability assurance engagements. It will apply to sustainability information reported across any sustainability topic and prepared under multiple frameworks. The standard is also profession agnostic, supporting its use by both professional accountants and non-accountant assurance practitioners. The draft standard was subject to a public consultation in 2023 and Chartered Accountants Ireland's response can be read here. 

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has announced  that the four largest audit firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC), have concluded the transition period of operational separation. Throughout the three-year transitional period, all four firms have made significant improvements to their governance to prioritise the delivery of audit quality. This includes the creation of independent audit boards chaired by Audit Non-Executives, improved transparency on financial transactions between the audit and non-audit business, and greater accountability at firm level for the delivery of operational separation outcomes. The firms have also developed audit specific cultures, with behaviours focussed on challenge, openness and professional scepticism. All four firms have met the 2024 deadline set by the FRC to implement the principles of operational separation. As set out in the Operational Separation Principles, the FRC will publish an assessment of the firms’ compliance each year, following the transition period.

IAASA has published its annual Observations paper highlighting matters that management, Audit Committees and auditors should consider when preparing, approving and auditing financial statements for 2024 year end dates. The Observations paper addresses financial reporting matters and, for the first time, sustainability reporting matters. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is in force for certain larger entities for the first time in 2024. IAASA has responsibility for examining issuers’ sustainability statements in much the same manner as it already has responsibility for examining issuer’s periodic financial reports. The paper sets out the approach IAASA will take in conducting sustainability statement examinations in 2025. Read the full paper here.

IAASA has updated the auditing standards to reflect the conforming amendments required due to the revision of ISA (Ireland) 600, Audits of Group Financial Statements (Including the Work of Component Auditors) in February 2023. The revised standard is effective for financial periods beginning on or after 15 December 2023. The standards that have been updated to reflect the conforming amendments are: ISA (Ireland) 220, Quality Management for an Audit of Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 230, Audit Documentation ISA (Ireland) 240, The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 250, Section A – Consideration of Laws and Regulations in an Audit of Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 260, Communication with Those Charged with Governance ISA (Ireland) 300, Planning an Audit of Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 315, Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement ISA (Ireland) 320, Materiality in Planning and Performing an Audit ISA (Ireland) 402, Audit Considerations Relating to an Entity Using a Service Organization ISA (Ireland) 501, Audit Evidence - Specific Considerations for Selected Items ISA (Ireland) 510, Initial Audit Engagements—Opening Balances ISA (Ireland) 550, Related Parties ISA (Ireland) 610, Using the Work of Internal Auditors ISA (Ireland) 700, Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 701, Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor’s Report ISA (Ireland) 705, Modifications to the Opinion in the Independent Auditor’s Report ISA (Ireland) 706, Emphasis of Matter Paragraphs and Other Matter Paragraphs in the Independent Auditor’s Report ISA (Ireland) 710, Comparative Information— Corresponding Figures and Comparative Financial Statements ISA (Ireland) 720, The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Other Information ISA (Ireland) 805, Special Considerations – Audits of Single Financial Statements and Specific Elements, Accounts or Items of a Financial Statement ISQM (Ireland) 2, Engagement Quality Reviews In addition, ISQM (Ireland) 1 was updated in September to reflect both the conforming amendments arising from ISA (Ireland) 600 and the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Directive. The updated standards are available on IAASA’s website.

Following public consultation IAASA has adopted ISAE (Ireland) 3000, Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information – Assurance of Sustainability Reporting in Ireland as the standard to be applied by auditors performing sustainability assurance engagements required by the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The Irish standard is based on ISAE 3000 (Revised) issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) with limited amendments. Chartered Accountants Ireland responded to the consultation in April. Updates to ISQM (Ireland) 1 ISAE (Ireland) 3000 requires auditors to comply with ISQM (Ireland) 1, Quality Management for Firms that Perform Audits or Reviews of Financial Statements, or Other Assurance or Related Services Engagements. IAASA has updated ISQM (Ireland) 1 to reflect the requirements of the CSRD as transposed in Ireland. Additional minor amendments were made to ISQM (Ireland) 1 to make conforming amendments for ISA (Ireland) 600, which was revised in February 2023 and is effective for financial periods starting on or after 15 December 2023. The remaining ISA (Ireland) 600 conforming amendments will be published on IAASA’s website in October. Additional information IAASA’s Statement on Scope and Authority of Audit and Assurance Pronouncements has also been updated to reflect the adoption of ISAE (Ireland) 3000. An explanatory video is available here on IAASA’s YouTube Channel. IAASA published feedback on the Consultation in June. Effective date ISAE (Ireland) 3000 applies to assurance reports issued on or after 15 December 2024. Amendments to firms’ systems of quality management related to the assurance of sustainability reporting must be designed and implemented by 15 December 2024. An evaluation of the updated system of quality management must be performed within one year of this date. Engagement letters for CSRD engagements TA 02/2024 - Sample Engagement Letter Terms in respect to the provision of Limited Assurance under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD’’) was issued in June 2024. These sample engagement letter terms were prepared to assist members in drafting engagement letters in respect of limited assurance engagements under the CSRD prior to its implementation. Therefore, they may be useful to implement a contract with the entity but following transposition of the CSRD they are currently being reviewed for any required amendments. Please monitor the Institute’s regular news channels for any updates to this TA.